The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) plans to rehabilitate and improve the safety of the 5.7-mile segment of the Kenai Spur Highway located between Soldotna and Kenai, Alaska.

The Kenai Spur Highway serves as a critical link between the communities of Kenai and Soldotna. Lying between two five-lane segments, the highway from MP 2.4 to 8.1 bottlenecks to two lanes. The roadway has higher crash rates than the statewide average, and also has the second highest rate of moose collisions in Alaska, so safety improvements are needed. The project is a priority for both the Kenai Peninsula Borough and the State of Alaska.

In 2011, DOT&PF received a $20 million appropriation from the legislature for the project. From 2012 to early 2014, DOT&PF conducted reconnaissance engineering to develop and evaluate alternatives. The Cities of Kenai and Soldotna have expressed their preference for a five-lane highway, as it would best meet their needs long-term. However, current funding is insufficient to construct the desired improvements, which are estimated to cost about $40 million.

With this phase of the project (Phase 1), DOT&PF will take the five-lane concept to a 75% design level, complete a final design, and move forward with construction to use the $20 million in existing funding. DOT&PF will also develop a phasing plan for construction of future improvements.

Project Features

For this rehabilitation project, the five-lane highway design includes two, 12-foot through lanes in each direction and a continuous 14-foot Two-Way Left-Turn Lane (TWLTL) with dedicated left-turn pockets in the center lane at intersections with high incidences of crashes. These project improvements would match the section of Kenai Spur Highway from S. Forest Drive to Swires Road and carry the design through Sports Lake Road. The additional through lanes would provide safe passing opportunities, reduce traffic platooning, and ease associated driver frustration. The continuous TWLTL is anticipated to provide greater separation for opposing traffic, thereby reducing the risk of head-on collisions. It would also remove vehicles waiting for left-turn opportunities from through lanes, lowering the risk of rear-end collisions.

During design, DOT&PF will also consider additional enhancements to improve safety and bring the alignment up to current design standards, including moose mitigation measures, lighting, and drainage improvements.